Perforating attachment for cans



E. 'TEYNOLDS.

PERFORATING ATTACHMENT FOR CANS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1918.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

Zlwueu for Z 11/422 z za'zazda PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN REYNOLDS, OF VINELAN'D, NEW JERSEY.

PERFORATING ATTACHMENT FOR CANS.

f Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

Application filed Maroh.12, 1918. Serial No. 221,983.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vineland, in the county of Cumberland and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Perforating Attachments for Cans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in can openers and has particular reference to a perforating attachment for cans and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a perforating device for liquid and powder containers or cans which may be attached to the container at the time of its manufacture in such manner as not to interfere with the packing and storage of a number of the containers in a minimum space and permit of the container being rested squarely upon the end thereof to which the device is attached without liability of tilting.

Another object is to attach the device to the container or can in a manner which will prevent accidental detachment thereof and which will permit of pivotal attachments of the device about axes extending both longitudinally and transversely of the container whereby the perforating means of the device may be shifted to make the necessary openings in the surface or end to which it is attached.-

A further object is the provision of a device of the character specified which may be forlned from a single piece of material in order to simplify the construction and reduce the cost of production.

The inventive. idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, is shown in the accompanying drawing; but it is to be expressly understood that said drawing is used merely for the purpose'of illustrating the invention as a whole and not to define the limits thereof, reference being had to the appended claim for this purpose.

In the drawing I Figure l is a sectional view through a container or can showing the perforating device attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, and illustrating the perforated attachment in changed position.

Fig. 4. is a detail perspective view of the perforating device.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, and what is now believed to be its preferred form, in which the container or.can 5, which is made of any suitable material, is provided at one end with the usual cover or closure 6 having the usual outstanding heading 7 surrounding the outer edge thereof and upon which the container is supported when the same is rested upon said end. Preferably formed centrally of the end closure 6, there is a depression or socket 8, the bottom of which is enlarged to provide the restricted neck portion 9 for a purpose which will appear in the course of the description. The end closure 6 is also provided adjacent its periphery with a second socket or depression 10 for a purpose which will also later appear.

The perforating attachment which comprises one of the essential features of the invention is preferably formed of a single sheet of fiat material, such as metal, to provide a rectangular or oblong body portion 11 which, when in position on the can or container, will engage the end 6 and normally lie in a plane within the outer edge of the beading 7 so that the container, when rested upon said beading, will assume an upright position and be prevented from tilting. One end of the body 11 is reduced to provide a sl1ank12, the'outer end of which is curved or bent upon itself to provide a pivot portion 13 of substantially U-shaped formation and of a size to fit within the depression or socket 8 when the attachment is in position and it will be apparent that by reason of the resiliency of the metal of which said pivot portion is made, the same may be snapped into the depression 8 whereupon V the restricted neck 9 thereof will engage the pivoted portion in such manner as to prevent the same from becoming accidentally detached and at the same time, permit of the pivotal movement of the attachment about the longitudinal axis of the container and also about a transverse axis thereof. This latter pivotal movement will permit of the other end of the body being raised from engagement with the end 6 after which said end of the attachment may be swung to any desired position about said longitudinal axis to permit of the end 6 being perforated.

The end of the body 11 opposite the pivot point 14 as described, the body 11 will be portion 13 is preferably out upon inwardly diverging lines to form the perforating point 14 which is bent at substantially ri ht angles to the body portion and normafily rested within the depression or socket 10 in the end 6 whereby the body 11 may be engaged with said end when the attachment is not in use. By bending the perforating provided with oppositely disposed extensions 15 which extend outwardly from the depression 6 toward the beading 7 but which are spaced sufliciently from thelatter to permit of the operator grasping said extensions in order to lift the end of the body about the portion 13 as a pivot and disengage the point 14 from the depression 10. After this operation, the attachment is free to be swung about the longitudinal axis of the container to a position where it is desired to perforate the end 6 to form outlet openings. When the attachment is thus adjusted and the point 14 is engaged with the end 6, it will be apparent that by applying pressure to the free end of the body 11 adjacent the pointilt,

the latter may be forced through the end of the container to form the opening, after which the pointvmay' be withdrawn and the attachment swung to a position preferably diametrically opposite in order to form another opening'in the same manner. The attachment may be then adjusted to its normal position with the perforating point 14 again in engagement with the depression 10.

What is claimed is:

In combination, a container having a central socket wider at its bottom than at its mouth and having smooth interior walls, the said container having a recess therein spaced from the socket, a body formed of a thin straight springmetal strip, a relatively attenuated pivot member at one end. of said strip comprising a U-shaped' spring portion' arranged perpendicularly to the plane of the strip and adapted to resiliently engage said socket and to snugly fit therein, and a cutter carried by said body and adapted normally torest in the said recess.

In testimony whereof I afiix 111 Si ature.

EDWIN RE NO DS. 

